PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Massive Destruction (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Destruction
vs
Sobral

178 cm
20
157 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

181 cm
21
168 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Massive Destruction!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julio Sobral!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sobral throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Destruction doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sobral counters with a stiff right hand.

Sobral gets the takedown into side control.
Sobral lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sobral controls the position.
Destruction tries to improve position but can't.
Sobral tries to advance to mount but can't.

Sobral wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Destruction, who protects the arm well.

Sobral looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Destruction is looking for a sweep.
Sobral scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Destruction is not content to let Sobral control the position.

Sobral is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Destruction is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Destruction prevents Sobral from moving into mount.
Sobral wants to lay and pray for a moment but Destruction keeps working.
Destruction is looking to reverse the position.
Destruction is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Destruction manages to get back to half guard.
Sobral frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Destruction is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sobral is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Destruction can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Sobral has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Destruction is squirming around, avoiding Sobral's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Destruction tries to reverse the position but Sobral maintains control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Destruction is working hard here to advance position.
Sobral controlling from mount.
Destruction sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Sobral is looking to take a break and control but Destruction is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Destruction is in trouble now - Sobral has advanced to mount!
Sobral trying to control but Destruction is having none of it.
Destruction can't escape the position.
Sobral sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sobral is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Destruction is surviving well by controlling Sobral's body position as best he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Destruction is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sobral controlling the pace for now.
Sobral wants to control the pace but Destruction is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Destruction keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sobral working Destruction over with strikes here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Destruction is squirming around, avoiding Sobral's attempts to control the action.
Sobral takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Destruction is looking to improve his position but Sobral isn't that keen on the idea.
Destruction is trying to reverse the position but instead Sobral has taken his back - oops!

Destruction is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Sobral gets his way!
Will Sobral go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good control from Sobral.
Destruction is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Sobral dominated that round.
That's time! Destruction's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sobral shoots in for a takedown but Destruction shows good takedown defense.
Sobral throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Destruction tries for a takedown but Sobral circles away easily

and Sobral counters with a nice double leg into side control. Destruction won't be happy with that.
Sobral taking a breather here.
Destruction throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Sobral takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Destruction to pass into mount.
Destruction tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral content just to control the position here.
Destruction is trying to escape the mount but Sobral keeps good control and instead manages to take Destruction's back.
Sobral trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Destruction is really stuck here.
Will Sobral go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Sobral doesn't have the hooks in and Destruction manages to turn into his guard.
Sobral wants to sweep but no luck.

Destruction is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Sobral utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Destruction distracts Sobral with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Destruction loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sobral pulls Destruction in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Destruction got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sobral has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Destruction has managed to get both his arms back between Sobral's legs - danger averted.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sobral had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Destruction defends it easily.
Sobral tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Destruction scoring with some ground and pound.
Destruction working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Destruction content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Destruction postures up in Sobral's guard and throws a big left but Sobral blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Destruction accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Destruction postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sobral is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Destruction, into his guard.
Sobral pushing down on Destruction's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sobral slips a nice elbow through Destruction's hands, connecting with Destruction's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Destruction is not content to let Sobral control the position.
Destruction is trying to get back to full guard.
Sobral takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Destruction wants to sweep but Sobral has passed to side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sobral wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Destruction, who protects the arm well.
Destruction sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sobral is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Destruction working to try and regain half guard.

Sobral working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sobral lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Sobral with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Destruction can't escape the position.
Destruction is squirming around, avoiding Sobral's attempts to control the action.
Destruction is looking to get to half guard.
Destruction wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Sobral is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Destruction defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Destruction breaks Sobral's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sobral holds on and takes a little breather.

Sobral is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Destruction defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Sobral showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Destruction. No joy for Sobral on that attempt.

Sobral closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Destruction's guard.
Sobral tries to free his leg and advance position but Destruction is retaining full guard.

Destruction working for a triangle but Sobral defends it easily.
Destruction keeping moving, preventing Sobral from controlling successfully.

Destruction is looking for a triangle but Sobral pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral is working Destruction over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sobral lands a couple of digs.
Sobral advances position into side control!
Destruction is not content to let Sobral control the position.

Sobral is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Destruction is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Destruction throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Destruction is looking for a sweep.
Sobral in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Destruction is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sobral trying to control the action but Destruction is working from the bottom.
Destruction stops Sobral from passing to mount.
Destruction manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Destruction missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Destruction not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sobral gets back to full guard.
Sobral manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Destruction manages to get himself to full guard.
Destruction throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sobral is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Sobral passes into half guard.
Destruction is not content to let Sobral control the position.
Julio Sobral is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Destruction wants to improve his position but Sobral is controlling well.
Sobral sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Sobral frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sobral tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sobral tries to control but Destruction wriggling away.
Destruction is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sobral controlling the pace for now.
Julio Sobral has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Destruction is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Sobral sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Destruction is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sobral content just to control the position here.
Destruction tries to improve his position but instead Sobral has taken his back!
Destruction can't escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sobral has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Destruction's body.
Sobral's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Massive Destruction has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Sobral comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sobral has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Sobral!
Julio Sobral managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Down Under - Supplements.160Q Video Proof, into his post fight interview.